One of the largest lakes in north Texas, Lewisville Lake, is infested with alligators. The parks management has installed several signs warning visitors to avoid feeding the alligators or swimming in the lake. The park has a camping site located near the lake. A Florida man was rushed to the hospital last week after an alligator sunk its teeth into his face. The man named Juan Carlos La Verde was . Ross, who unknowingly captured the attack from above, said he couldnt believe La Verde survived the encounter. A total of 9,442 nuisance alligators were killed in 2021, the FWC says. Drone footage shot from above a Florida lake shows the moment a large alligator chomps on a man's head.The victim somehow managed to survive the attack. The alligator bit the face of a man while he was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa in Florida, in a case of another unprovoked attack in the state. I am actually even better because this gave me a new perspective, you know, and not many people get that, La Verde told WFTS-TV. I get that thats scary, I do, but life is a scary place, so you can carry that load by yourself or have someone carry it for you.. There have been at least three fatal alligator attacks in the US this year. As LaVerde swam alone near the shoreline, drone video shows a massive alligator swimming toward him. The man was seriously injured after being bitten by the gator while swimming in Lake Thonotosassa. Given that alligators natural habitat is near water bodies, it is hardly surprising that most Florida lakes are alligator-infested. But said theres been a nuisance gator causing issues, and for the last four months a trapper has been out repeatedly to try and remove it. THONOTOSASSA, Fla. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said an alligator bit someone Wednesday afternoon, sending them to the hospital. There have been at least three fatal alligator attacks in the US this year. The man was rushed to Tampa General Hospital around 4 p.m. and deemed to be in critical condition. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); WHO WE AREThe news you want unfiltered.The Electronic Urban Report/EUR puts the most buzz worthy African American news at your fingertips. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Although experts claim that fatal alligator attacks are rare, multiple related incidents have been recorded in Florida over recent months and years. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. He recalls feeling the reptiles teeth and tongue piercing his face, upper body, and skull. THONOTOSASSA, Fla. - It is hard to say what is more incredible, that JC Defeats was bitten in the head by an alligator and survived, or that the brutal attack was caught on camera. Merda was visiting the fish camp when he lost his way while strolling in the woods. 'It was pretty gnarly,' an unidentified witness said. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Lake Thonotosassa covers over 800 acres and is the largest in Hillsborough County. The FWC says the removal of the dangerous alligators does not pose a significant impact to its population. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Alligator trappers were out on the lake looking for the gator. THONOTOSASSA, Fla. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said an alligator bit someone Wednesday afternoon, sending them to the hospital. In Florida, the FWC in November 2021 stated there were 442 unprovoked alligator bites from 1948 to 2021, with an average of six per year. FWC said the alligator bit the person at Lake Thonotosassa. Pine flatwoods cover a significant proportion of the park, although hardwood and sand pine forests are also found within the park. Learn about the habitat restoration assessment, design, and techniques that have been successfully utilized over the past four decades to restore coastal ecosystems in Tampa Bay. Thu, Aug 4, 2022 at 2:29 pm, The Savannah Bananas will bring 'the greatest show in sports' to Tampa this weekend, New coffee in Seminole Heights, Chef Suzanne Lara has a new Tampa concept, and more Tampa Bay foodie news. The lake area is also popular among golfers, given the beautiful course on the shores. An edition of: WaterAtlas.org The relatively frequent alligator attacks or encounter in Florida is somehow expected, since there is a large number of the animal's population across the Sunshine State. Save. And I had a med kit in my car so I gave him gauze and an emergency kit to stop the bleeding and then the ambulance showed up.". THONOTOSASSA, Fla. - For the fourth time in the last three weeks, someone in the Tampa Bay region has been attacked by an alligator. The lake was also a religious site. Lake Manatee also serves as a freshwater reservoir for Sarasota and Manatee counties. A Florida man swimming in a 839-acre lake suffered a frightening attack by an alligator earlier this month. Whats the Biggest Alligator Ever Found in the Mississippi River? 366 Reviews. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reported that the alligator closed its mouth with a total pressure of around 2,000 pounds on La Verdes head and chest. He would make up to $150 daily from this job. Are There Alligators in the Mississippi River? Alligators nest on dry land, and getting near one can be the reason for an attack. La Verde admitted to the newspaper that he hadnt taken precautions before swimming in the lake, such as examining the water for alligators and avoiding weedy areas during nesting and hatching season. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (WLF) stated that licensed hunters have removed more than 1,000 nuisance alligators in the state, where reported attacks are just encounters, as cited by USA Today. Once you walk past the gate, you will see the marked trail to the lake on the right-hand side. The third attack incident involving alligators occurred in this lake. Lake Lewisville, Texas. DeSantis says Disney lawsuit is 'political', By Jim Turner and News Service of Florida. Drone pilot Matt Ross was filming Juan Carlos La Verde, a firefighter and paramedic, when La Verde suddenly felt a 12-foot gator "pierce" his skin and make his head "pop," per Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. An alligator bit a man at Lake Thonotosassa in Thonotosassa, Florida, shown in a file photo from February 19, 2020. . He somehow managed to place his hands inside the gators mouth, felt its teeth as it struggled, and rolled with him in water. And a Florida man was killed by an alligator while searching for Frisbees in a lake in late May. You have entered an incorrect email address! A number of these deadly alligator attacks occurred within the lake or its vicinity as people go near them. He swam until he got to a home across the attack area. on The natives sourced spearheads, arrowheads, and other tools from lake mines. La Verde attributed his survival to his instincts, luck, and divine intervention. At this time no alligators have been removed from the area," FWC wrote in an email to CL. 7:49 am. Experts said alligators do not want anything to do with people. The agency also urges people to avoid alligators, as well as handling or feeding them. Nuisance alligators those that are 4 feet longer or more and believed to pose a threat to people, their pets, or property are trapped and killed by the agency through its Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program. See all waterbodies on an interactive map: Explore Waterbodies on an Interactive Map. With the right stroke, all I felt was scales, teeth and then right there Im like okay. Juan Carlos La Verde poses with his wife, Christine, inside their living room. The animal . The La Verdes on their boat in a lake behind their house, before the alligator attack. An alligator bit a man at Lake Thonotosassa in Thonotosassa, Florida, shown in a file photo from February 19, 2020. Later in the emergency room, La Verde underwent a six-hour craniotomy and jaw surgery that saw surgeons remove a section of his temporal lobe. COPYRIGHT 2022 EURweb.com/Rabercom Enterprises. Lake Thonotosassa presents many recreational activities for residents and visitors. appreciated. Merda swam to the shore, began screaming for help, and eventually got assistance three days later. The FWCestimates there are approximately 1.3 million alligators in Florida living in all of the state's 67 counties, inhabiting all wild areas. The lake gets its name from the Thonotosassa area, a critical quarry for Seminole Indians. He said he has never heard of anyone being bit by an alligator in Lake Thonotosassa before. . Though extremely rare, there have now been three known fatal alligator attacks so far in 2022. Lake Thonotosassa is located in Hillsborough County near Tampa. Decline in habitat quality and species diversity. An alligator bit a mans face while he was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa in Florida, according to officials. The freshwater lake is excellent for fishing, boating, kayaking, and canoeing. He even heard a popping sound when the animals jaw snapped. Many of those who visit the lake engage in cutthroat trout fishing. "Its usually not the person feeding the gator that gets bit, it's somebody that doesnt even know theres a gator there that ends up getting bit," said ZooTampa Associate Curator of Reptiles & Fish, Dan Costell. This attack, along the shoreline of Lake Thonotosassa in Hillsborough County, was . Man bitten in the face by alligator while swimming in Lake Thonotosassa, helps people who suffer with depression and anxiety, climbed the equivalent height of Mount Everest. 222,553 Samples. Nature & Parks, Bodies of Water, State Parks. FWC said the alligator bit the person . Lake Thonotosassa is an 942 acres (381 ha) lake that is named after the census-designated place (CDP) that it is in, which is Thonotosassa, Florida. View our Accessibility Statement for more information. This analysis uses modeling and multiple criteria to answer that question. View our Accessibility Statement for more information. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Alternatively, use the Waterbody Search page to view all waterbodies in a sortable and filterable list. Luckily, the scary incident only lasted a few seconds, and La Verde managed to wrestle his way out of the jaws of death. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. It was not until the man walked back to the private property where he had parked that it was clear he had been attacked by an alligator. suffered a frightening attack by an alligator, avoiding weedy areas during nesting and hatching season. Ensure you have your fishing license if you plan to engage in the activity on the lake. "There's tons of gators in there," said 16-year-old Seth Wynn who fishes on the lake. Fishing, skiing, swimming, relaxing, and boating are popular activities on this recreational lake. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a call about the incident at around 3:45 p.m. Thursday, according to a statement shared with CNN. window.addEventListener('load', function() { (function(c, id, p, d, w){ var i = d.createElement('iframe'); i.height = '0'; i.width = '0'; i.style = { display: 'none', position: 'absolute', visibility: 'hidden' }; i.src = "https://newsource-embed-prd.ns.cnn.com/articles/cnnvan-stats.html?article_id="+id+"&category="+c+"&publisher="+p+"&url=" + encodeURI(w.location); d.body.appendChild(i); })("National", "h_883f0b1a1d95ae107bf60a48a8fa4cd2", "24372", document, window)}). The park offers several amenities, including a golf course, a walking trail, and . A Florida man's swim in Lake Thonotosassa took a nasty turn when he was bitten in the face by an alligator. And a Florida man was killed by an alligator while searching for Frisbees in a lake in late May. Justin Garcia Lewisville Lake is one of the largest lakes in north Texas, with 29,000 acres and 233 miles of shoreline. Juan Carlos La Verde, 34, of Brandon, was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa last Wednesday afternoon when the alligator . Taylor Lake is not the most crocodile-infested water body in Florida, but it is the location of the first incident involving an alligator attack in 2022. Hillsborough River State Park. The green lake looks like there could be something lurking under the surface, and that turned out to be true, because the American triathlete Bill Berry swam into an alligator during his training session. Lake Thonotosassa is the largest natural lake in Hillsborough County. A Florida man was hospitalized last week after an alligator bit him in the face. 15402 N US Highway 301, Thonotosassa, FL 33592-2318. The man was rushed to Tampa General Hospital around 4 p.m., and was in critical condition, fire officials said. Nuisance alligators those that are 4 feet or longer and believed to pose a threat to people, their pets or property are trapped and killed by the agency through its Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program. In July, an elderly woman died after falling into a lake and being grabbed by two . Two weeks after, the Brandon man is out of the hospital but has a long road to recovery ahead of him.. On Aug. 3, JC was at Lake Thonotosassa shooting an instructional video for an upcoming event through his company . Luckily, Merda lived but without one arm. Max Steele The bite was enough to crush a portion of La Verdes skull and break his jaw. Although the lakes name suggests that one will see a lot of manatees, visitors will not see any at the park because the dam prevents them from reaching the lake. Once you get to Taylor Lakes shores, you can spot Munt Bell, which rises 2,379 feet above the lake level. The Hillsborough County Fire Rescue transported the 34-year-old victim to the hospital, the FWC said, adding that it dispatched a contracted alligator trapper to the lake and is continuing to investigate the incident. Residential development surrounds the lake. While most encounter occur the gator habitat, there are also instances when human-wildlife conflict transpires in residential areas. What areas in Tampa Bay are best suited for oyster reef restoration? The Florida Fish and Wildlife . Start typing the name of a water resource in the box below to see a list of matching waterbodies. 2. (Photo : Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images). Open today: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM. 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The man had been swimming in Lake Thonotosassa, towards the northeast of Tampa, when the attack . A waterfall also magnetically descends a 164-foot high cliff on the lakes western side. A total of 9,442 nuisance alligators were killed in 2021, the commission says. He specializes in travel content. A similar incident occurred at the same park in 2020. La Verde then endured a 6-hour surgery and will have to undergo more operations in the months ahead. There is a small swimming beach along the lakes shores where you could cool off during the summer. Tampa Theatre secures $14 million for repairs and restorations, USF president says student protesters caused an active shooter response from staff, Following report of a shrinking canopy, City of Tampa plans to plant 30,000 trees by 2030, Florida bill allowing landlords to charge tenants a monthly non-refundable fee in lieu of a security deposit heads to DeSantis, By Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida, Florida Republicans vote to lower gun-buying age, reversing changes made after Parkland, Florida Republicans clear path for DeSantis to run for president without resigning. In a rare incident, a Florida man was bitten on his face while swimming in Lake Thonotosassa, northeast of Tampa. In the US alone, alligator attacks are common in the Florida and Louisiana. A good Samaritan drove La Verde to the hospital. A Warner Bros. His struggles with his health complications and his determination to work instead of begging for food could have led him to take the risky job. The FWC, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue all responded to the scene. I am perfectly fine. "The reason we've been calling on him is he's been coming up, you know, on our banks in front of the house, and he's not scared. Increased abundance of non-native plant species. The gator's bite was enough to crush a portion of the man's skull and break his jaw. Latest Sample 04/29/2023. Scroll to read more Tampa Bay News articles. In particular, the emphasis is placed on the so-called "nuisance alligators" which have a size of at least four feet and perceived to pose a threat to people, their pets, and property, as summarized by the US media network. A witness at the scene of the attack said they only heard a scream initially and later, the victim emerged from the water with a "big gash" and taken to the hospital., Viral News, Times Now The man was swimming along the northern shoreline of Lake Thonotosassa. Wake up to the day's most important news. The climb will take you across several scenic footbridges, including the one that lies over Taylor Creek. Its both a tragedy and a miracle at the same time, Ross told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Juan Carlos La Verde, of Brandon, was taking a dip in Lake Thonotosassa on Wednesday afternoon when . The Knights-Griffin Road is at the northern part of the lake, while the McIntosh Road allows you to access the eastern part of the lake. In July, an elderly woman died after falling into a lake and being grabbed by two alligators in Florida. A file photo of an alligator with its mouth open. Around 1.3 million alligators call Florida home, according to the FWC, living in all 67 counties in the state. This is a generic photo of Lake Thonotosassa and does not show the . You can access these trails from the campground. You can capture various fish species, including speckled perch, sunshine bass, catfish, shell cracker, and bluegill. By Earliest Sample 09/11/1956. Tue, Aug 16, 2022 at 5:17 pm. Merda managed to come up three times during the struggle before the alligator took off with significant parts of his arm. Florida alligator, alligator attack, Lake Thonotosassa, Hillsborough County, Florida alligator attack, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FWC, Animal attack, gator attack, United States, us. The Hillsborough River State Park, one of the states parks, is a popular zone near the lake. on An alligator bit a man at Lake Thonotosassa in Thonotosassa, Florida, shown in a file photo from February 19, 2020. All Rights Reserved. the FWC in November 2021 stated there were 442 . The 34-year-old was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa when the alligator struck, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. So, what I think I did, what I felt like I did, was that I immediately tried to open its jaws because I knew I was in a gator, La Verde said. Scroll to read more Tampa Bay News articles. & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. The dam was constructed sometime in the 1960s. Despite knowing about the danger of working in the alligator-infested lake, he never seemed bothered by the threat, despite not having health insurance. Justin Garcia has written for The Nation, Investigative Reporters & Editors Journal, the USA Today Network and various other news outlets. See a water quality problem happening? However, La Verde is still looking up despite the scary encounter. Taylor Lake is not the most crocodile-infested water body in Florida, but it is the location of the first incident involving an alligator attack in 2022. His assistant, who was filming the instructional video, captured the horrific attack using a drone that he was flying overhead. The trail begins at the parks parking lot, which is separated from the park by a wildlife gate. Lake Thonotosassa is in Hillsborough County, near Tampa. An alligator bit a man at Lake Thonotosassa in Thonotosassa, Florida, shown in a file photo from February 19, 2020. . Related Article: Alligator Drinks Box of Diet Coke Cans at Florida Couple's Home, Tags Despite his injuries, La Verde managed to get out of the lake and asked for assistance for two kids he found at home. In a terrifying video, a Florida man was viciously attacked by a 12-foot alligator in Lake Thonotosassa, and was left without the right side of his skull. An alligator bit a man at Lake Thonotosassa in Thonotosassa, Florida, shown in a file photo from February 19, 2020. . An alligator in Florida bit a man's head while he was swimming in August. Only 20 minutes from downtown Tampa, La Verde made an impact with a hard object. THONOTOSASSA, Fla. - For the fourth time in the last three weeks, someone in the Tampa Bay region has been attacked by an alligator. The US wildlife agency also received the initial details of the incident when it received a call at around 3:45 p.m. local time on the said date. "He had a big gash on his face and he had a towel covering his wound, and then he said that they called 911. Did you encounter any technical issues? Thank you for reading! For the fourth time in the last three weeks, someone in the Tampa Bay region has been attacked by an alligator. This waterbody is located within: Hillsborough Bay Watershed. When I felt the teeth, I immediately knew, and then as I opened it I knew that I either turned it or it turned me, but it was confused just as I was confused, and then it just let go.. By Presented By: 5:28 PM EDT, Sun August 7, 2022. La Verde, 34, was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa in suburban Tampa during filming of an instructional video for DefeatX, an organization that aims to help people dealing with anxiety and depression through athletic endeavors.

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